Terms and Conditions

Dog Noise UK — Information. Evidence. Behaviour. Community. Solutions.

Last updated: 14/09/26

Welcome to Dog Noise UK.

These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the Dog Noise UK website, applications, reporting tools, dog-noise diaries, maps, discussion areas, trainer services and any other services that we provide through the website.

By using Dog Noise UK, you agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions.

If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use the website or submit information through our services.

1. About Dog Noise UK

Dog Noise UK is an information and community resource designed to help people understand, record, manage and prevent excessive dog barking.

Our services may include:

  • dog-noise reporting;
  • dog-noise diaries;
  • interactive maps;
  • geographical and statistical information;
  • information and educational resources;
  • dog-training resources;
  • dog-trainer listings;
  • community discussion facilities;
  • league tables and other statistical information;
  • facilities for preparing or sharing information with local authorities.

Dog Noise UK aims to support both people experiencing excessive dog barking and responsible dog owners looking for practical ways to address barking behaviour.

2. Acceptance of these Terms

By accessing or using Dog Noise UK, you confirm that:

  • you will use the website lawfully;
  • you will provide information honestly and accurately;
  • you will respect other users;
  • you will not deliberately misuse the website;
  • you will comply with these Terms and Conditions.

If you are using Dog Noise UK on behalf of another person or organisation, you confirm that you have authority to do so.

3. User accounts

Some Dog Noise UK services may require you to create an account.

You are responsible for:

  • providing accurate information;
  • keeping your login details confidential;
  • keeping your account information up to date;
  • all activity carried out through your account.

You must not:

  • share your password with other people;
  • use another person's account without permission;
  • create an account using another person's identity;
  • create multiple accounts for the purpose of manipulating the services;
  • allow another person to use your account in a way that breaches these Terms.

If you believe that your account has been accessed without your permission, you should contact us as soon as possible.

4. Dog-noise reports

Dog Noise UK provides tools that allow users to record and report incidents of excessive dog barking.

A report should contain information that is:

  • truthful to the best of your knowledge;
  • relevant to the incident being reported;
  • factual and reasonably objective;
  • provided in good faith.

You should record what you actually experienced rather than making assumptions about another person's intentions, character or behaviour.

Appropriate example:
"The dog barked continuously for approximately 30 minutes between 10:00 and 10:30."
Not appropriate:
"The owner is a horrible person who deliberately lets their dog bark all day."

The purpose of the reporting system is to document dog noise, not to publicly criticise or identify individuals.

5. The public "Notes" field

Important

The Notes field associated with a dog-noise report may be displayed publicly on Dog Noise UK.

For this reason, users must take particular care when entering information into this field.

You must not use the public Notes field to identify another person.

You must not enter information that could easily identify the person, household or property you are complaining about.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • names of neighbours or dog owners;
  • full names or initials where these could identify an individual;
  • telephone numbers;
  • email addresses;
  • social media usernames or profile information;
  • photographs of individuals;
  • vehicle registration numbers;
  • precise personal addresses;
  • house numbers where these could identify a particular household;
  • information about employment or workplace;
  • information about family members;
  • information about children;
  • personal circumstances;
  • medical or health information;
  • other information that could reasonably be used to identify a private individual.

You should also avoid combining several pieces of information where, taken together, they could easily identify a person.

What should go into the public Notes field?

The Notes field should describe the noise incident, rather than the person involved.

Appropriate:
"Dog barking repeatedly between approximately 7pm and 8pm. Barking occurred in several periods lasting between 5 and 15 minutes."
Not appropriate:
"John Smith at number 24 lets his dog bark because he works nights."

The first describes the noise. The second identifies a person and includes information about their personal circumstances.

6. Private Notes

Dog Noise UK may provide a separate Private Notes field.

Information entered into Private Notes is different from information entered into the public Notes field.

Private Notes are not intended to be published publicly. They are intended for the user's own records and documentation of an incident.

Users may therefore record additional information in Private Notes that they consider relevant to their own documentation of an incident.

However, Private Notes must still be used lawfully and responsibly.

Private Notes must not be used to:

  • threaten another person;
  • harass another person;
  • organise harassment;
  • make deliberately false allegations;
  • upload unlawful material;
  • facilitate criminal activity;
  • abuse or intimidate another person.

Private does not mean that information is exempt from the law or that it can be used for unlawful purposes.

Where legally required, we may be required to disclose information held in Private Notes to an appropriate authority.

7. Public versus private information

Users should always check which field they are completing before submitting information.

Public Notes

Information entered here may be displayed publicly and must therefore follow the strict rules described above.

Private Notes

Information entered here is intended to remain private and is not published as part of the public report.

A simple rule: Public Notes describe the noise. Private Notes can contain additional information needed for your own record.

8. Personal information about other people

You must not use Dog Noise UK to publish unnecessary personal information about another person.

This applies particularly to neighbours, dog owners and other private individuals.

You must not use Dog Noise UK to:

  • "name and shame" people;
  • publish personal details about neighbours;
  • encourage others to contact or confront a person;
  • publish information intended to locate or identify an individual;
  • publish personal information as retaliation for a dispute.

If information is necessary for a formal complaint to a local authority, it should be provided through the appropriate private or official reporting process rather than through the public website.

9. Accuracy and honesty

You must make reasonable efforts to ensure that information you submit is accurate.

You must not knowingly:

  • submit false complaints;
  • exaggerate the frequency or duration of barking;
  • fabricate incidents;
  • submit reports about incidents that did not occur;
  • manipulate dates or times;
  • submit duplicate reports in order to artificially increase complaint numbers;
  • deliberately misrepresent another person's behaviour.

Dog Noise UK relies on users to provide honest information.

Our maps, statistics, league tables and other information may be affected by inaccurate or malicious reports.

10. No malicious or abusive use

Dog Noise UK must not be used for malicious purposes.

You must not use the website to:

  • harass, threaten or intimidate another person;
  • stalk another person;
  • publish abusive material;
  • encourage others to target someone;
  • make deliberately defamatory or malicious allegations;
  • engage in discrimination or hate speech;
  • impersonate another person;
  • conduct fraudulent activity;
  • interfere with the operation of the website;
  • attempt to gain unauthorised access to accounts or systems;
  • introduce malicious software;
  • scrape or collect personal information for inappropriate purposes;
  • manipulate statistics, rankings or reports.

We reserve the right to remove content, restrict accounts or take other appropriate action where we reasonably believe that the service is being misused.

11. Harassment and neighbour disputes

Dog Noise UK is intended to help resolve dog-noise problems constructively.

It must not become a tool for escalating disputes between neighbours.

We strongly encourage users to remain factual and respectful when documenting incidents.

Occasional dog barking is a normal part of dog behaviour. The purpose of the service is to help identify patterns of excessive or disruptive barking rather than to encourage complaints about every instance of barking.

Users should not use Dog Noise UK as a means of retaliation against a neighbour or as part of an ongoing personal dispute unrelated to dog noise.

12. Local authority reporting

Dog Noise UK may provide facilities to help users prepare information for submission to local authorities.

Information submitted through Dog Noise UK does not automatically constitute a formal statutory nuisance complaint to a local authority unless the particular service explicitly states otherwise.

Where appropriate, users may need to make a separate complaint directly to their local authority.

Dog Noise UK does not determine whether a statutory nuisance exists.

The relevant local authority is responsible for investigating complaints and determining what action, if any, is appropriate under the law.

We cannot guarantee that a local authority will accept, investigate or act upon information submitted using Dog Noise UK.

13. Dog-noise maps and statistics

Dog Noise UK may display information about reported dog-noise incidents using maps, statistics, league tables or other visualisations.

This information is based on reports submitted by users.

It should not automatically be interpreted as proof that:

  • a particular person is responsible for excessive barking;
  • a particular dog is causing a statutory nuisance;
  • every report relates to the same dog;
  • every report has been independently verified;
  • a particular area has a legally established noise problem.

Statistics and maps are intended to illustrate patterns in reported information.

They are not necessarily a definitive representation of actual levels of dog noise.

14. Community areas and message boards

Where Dog Noise UK provides message boards, forums or other community features, users are responsible for the content they submit.

You must not post content that:

  • is unlawful;
  • is threatening;
  • is abusive;
  • is defamatory;
  • contains unnecessary personal information;
  • infringes another person's rights;
  • contains malicious software;
  • promotes illegal activity;
  • is deliberately misleading;
  • is intended to harass or intimidate another person.

We may moderate, edit, restrict or remove content where we consider this necessary to protect users, maintain the service or comply with the law.

We are not responsible for opinions expressed by individual users.

15. Dog trainers and third-party services

Dog Noise UK may provide listings or profiles for dog trainers and other service providers.

Information about trainers may be supplied by the trainers themselves.

While we may take reasonable steps to maintain the quality of the service, Dog Noise UK does not guarantee:

  • a trainer's qualifications;
  • experience;
  • professional status;
  • suitability;
  • availability;
  • prices;
  • results;
  • quality of service.

Users are responsible for making their own enquiries and deciding whether a particular trainer is appropriate for their circumstances.

Any agreement between a user and a third-party service provider is between those parties.

Dog Noise UK is not normally a party to that agreement.

16. Information and educational resources

Dog Noise UK provides information about dog behaviour, barking, noise nuisance, reporting procedures and related subjects.

This information is provided for general educational purposes.

It is not intended to replace:

  • legal advice;
  • veterinary advice;
  • professional behavioural assessment;
  • professional dog-training advice;
  • advice from a local authority;
  • advice from another appropriately qualified professional.

Users should obtain appropriate professional advice where their circumstances require it.

17. Intellectual property

Unless otherwise stated, the content of the Dog Noise UK website, including text, graphics, logos, software, design elements and other materials, belongs to Dog Noise UK or is used with appropriate permission.

You may view and use the website for personal and lawful purposes.

You must not reproduce, redistribute, sell, commercially exploit or substantially copy website content without our permission, except where permitted by law.

Users retain responsibility for ensuring that material they submit does not infringe the intellectual property rights of another person.

18. User-submitted content

By submitting content to Dog Noise UK, you confirm that:

  • you have the right to submit the content;
  • the content is not knowingly false or misleading;
  • the content does not unlawfully infringe another person's rights;
  • the content complies with these Terms and Conditions.

You grant Dog Noise UK permission to store, process and display submitted content as necessary to provide the relevant service.

Where content is submitted to a public part of the website, you understand that it may be visible to other website users and members of the public.

19. Removal of content

We may remove or restrict access to content where we reasonably believe that it:

  • breaches these Terms and Conditions;
  • contains inappropriate personal information;
  • creates a privacy or safety risk;
  • is unlawful;
  • is malicious or abusive;
  • is misleading;
  • is technically harmful;
  • is otherwise inappropriate for the service.

Where appropriate, we may contact the person who submitted the content.

We may also suspend or terminate accounts where serious or repeated breaches occur.

20. Website availability

We aim to keep Dog Noise UK available and functioning correctly.

However, we do not guarantee that:

  • the website will always be available;
  • every feature will always function;
  • the website will be free from errors;
  • services will never be interrupted;
  • information will never be lost.

We may temporarily suspend or modify services for maintenance, security, upgrades or other operational reasons.

21. Security

Users must not attempt to compromise the security of Dog Noise UK.

This includes attempting to:

  • gain unauthorised access;
  • access another user's account;
  • access restricted areas of the website;
  • interfere with servers or databases;
  • introduce malicious code;
  • circumvent security measures;
  • overload or disrupt the website.

Suspected security vulnerabilities should be reported to us responsibly rather than exploited.

22. Third-party websites and services

Dog Noise UK may contain links to third-party websites, including local authority websites, dog-training services, mapping services and other resources.

These websites are operated independently of Dog Noise UK.

We are not responsible for:

  • their content;
  • their availability;
  • their privacy practices;
  • their security;
  • their terms and conditions;
  • any products or services they provide.

Users should review the terms and privacy policies of third-party websites before using them.

23. Limitation of responsibility

Dog Noise UK provides information and tools to help users document and understand dog-noise problems.

We do not guarantee that using the website will:

  • stop a dog from barking;
  • resolve a neighbour dispute;
  • result in action by a local authority;
  • establish that a statutory nuisance exists;
  • result in legal proceedings;
  • result in compensation or another remedy.

Users remain responsible for decisions they make based on information obtained through Dog Noise UK.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.

24. Your responsibility for your submissions

You are responsible for the information and content you submit to Dog Noise UK.

If you submit unlawful, malicious, defamatory or otherwise inappropriate material, you may be personally responsible for that material.

Dog Noise UK does not accept responsibility for statements made by individual users.

25. Privacy

Our use of personal information is explained in our Privacy Policy.

By using Dog Noise UK, you acknowledge that your information may be processed in accordance with that policy.

Particular care should be taken when entering information into public areas of the website.

26. Changes to these Terms and Conditions

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time.

Changes may be necessary when:

  • new services are introduced;
  • existing services change;
  • legal requirements change;
  • security requirements change;
  • we improve the operation of the website.

The latest version will be published on this page.

Your continued use of Dog Noise UK after changes have been published constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms and Conditions.

27. Suspension or termination

We may suspend or terminate access to an account or particular services where we reasonably believe that a user:

  • has seriously breached these Terms and Conditions;
  • has repeatedly breached these Terms and Conditions;
  • has used the service maliciously;
  • has attempted to compromise the security of the website;
  • has submitted unlawful content;
  • has otherwise misused the service.

Where appropriate, we may also preserve relevant information where necessary for security, legal or regulatory purposes.

28. Governing law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

Any disputes relating to these Terms and Conditions will be subject to the applicable courts of England and Wales.

29. Contact us

If you have questions about these Terms and Conditions, or wish to report content that you believe breaches them, please contact us.

Dog Noise UK

Email:
TBC

Address:
17 Garston Crescent, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 8NR

Our aim

Dog Noise UK exists to help people deal with excessive dog barking fairly, constructively and effectively.

We believe good information makes a better report, and that better information can help reduce unnecessary conflict.

There are two sides to dog noise.

People affected by excessive barking deserve to be heard. Dog owners deserve the opportunity to understand the problem and find practical solutions.

Our services are intended to support both.

Please use Dog Noise UK responsibly, respectfully and honestly.

Dog Noise UK — Information. Evidence. Behaviour. Community. Solutions.

Together, we can

STOP excessive dog barking in the UK

Helping communities understand, manage and prevent excessive dog barking across the UK.
Dog Noise UK is an animal-loving, dog-positive organisation that aims to educate dog owners about excessive illegal noise, by facilitating tools, methods and training that prevents dogs from barking to the annoyance of everyone around them.

 

We facilitate methods making it easy for the public to report issues to the local authorities, as well as keeping a centralised record of dog noise complaints that UK councils and the general public can easily get access to.